Indie Memphis Film Festival 2020 screened over 230 feature films, shorts, and music videos, and announced this year’s award-winners. Top Jury prizes went to Emma Seligman’s Shiva Baby for Best Narrative Feature, and Anthony Banua-Simon’s Cane Fire for Best Documentary Feature.

The Festival Awards, decided by Indie Memphis Festival staff, include the Ron Tibbett Excellence in Filmmaking Award for Ephraim Asili (The Inheritance), the Craig Brewer Emerging Filmmaker Award for Gillian Horvat (I Blame Society), and the Soul of Southern Film Award for Lawrence Matthews (The Hub).

2020 Indie Memphis Film Festival Award-Winners

Jury Awards

Best Narrative Feature – SHIVA BABY by Emily Seligman, $1K Cash Prize

Duncan-Williams, Inc. Scriptwriting – EXECUTIVE ORDER by Lusa Silvestre, Lázaro Ramos, Aldri Anunciação, Elísio Lopes Jr., $1K Cash Prize

Best Narrative Short – “Paradise” by Deni Cheng, $500 Cash Prize

Best Documentary Feature – CANE FIRE by Anthony Banua-Simon, $1K Cash Prize

Best Documentary Short – “Jesa” by Kyungwon Song, $500 Cash Prize

Best Departures Feature – MY DARLING SUPERMARKET by Tali Yankelevich, $500 Cash Prize

Best Departures Short – “The Return of Osiris” by Essa Grayeb

Best Hometowner Feature – WE CAN’T WAIT by Lauren Ready, $1K Cash Prize

Best Hometowner Narrative Short – “Empty” by Michael Butler, Jr., $500 Cash Prize

Best Hometowner Documentary Short – “Road to Step” by Zaire Love, $500 Cash Prize

Best Hometowner Music Video – “You’re My Jesus” by The Poet, Havi

Best Sounds Feature – BORN BALEARIC: JON SA TRINXA AND THE SPIRIT OF IBIZA by Lily Renae, $500 Cash Prize

Best Animated Short – “Grab My Hand: A Letter to My Dad” by Camrus Johnson, Pedro Piccinini

Best Music Video – “Colors” by Black Pumas, dir. by Kristian Mercado

Documentary Short Indiegrant – “Here Be Dragons” by GB Shannon, $13K Grant Package

Narrative Short Indiegrant – “Beware of Goat” by Justin Malone, $13K Grant Package

Proof-of-Concept Indiegrant – “Beale St. Blues” by Daniel Ferrell, $13K Grant Package

Best Poster Design – PIER KIDS

Festival Awards

AWARDED BY FESTIVAL STAFF

Ron Tibbett Excellence in Filmmaking – THE INHERITANCE by Ephraim Asili

Craig Brewer Emerging Filmmaker – I BLAME SOCIETY by Gillian Horvat

Soul of Southern Film – THE HUB by Lawrence Matthews

Best After Dark Short – “The Three Men You Meet at Night” by Beck Kitsis, $500 Cash Prize

Indie Award – Daniel Lynn, Sound Engineer @Music + Arts Studio

Vision Award – Kelly Chandler, Founder of Indie Memphis